ABS Forum???

Bladeandbarrel

Bladeandbarrel

Joined
Oct 5, 1998
Messages
3,148
I would love to see an ABS-specific forum on this website.
We have the cream of the ABS Makers (and collectors :)) posting on this site and it could be a terrific way to educate newbies on the ABS and various ABS focused events such as hammer-ins and shows.

Somebody send this thread to Spark!

I nominate Fisk and Darby as moderators :)
 
Interesting thought...we already have the shop talk forum, but that includes all types of knifemaking, not just the forged blade.

I wouldn't mind seeing an ABS forum myself.
 
An ABS forum would be a great idea. I would love to see a forum deicated to steel bashers. In fact, I would love to see a bladesmith forum that was open to all bladesmiths, not just members of the ABS. For it to work as an ABS forum we would have to have ABS members that are willing to take an active role in moderating this forum.

I love the idea of a bladesmith forum and think it would be a great success.
 
You coud probably predict that I'd be behind this idea %110! I'd love to see an ABS / bladesmith forum.

Cheers,

Roger
 
That's really up to you guys. We'd need someone from ABS who's willing to moderate, once that is taken care of, it's a matter of flipping a switch
 
All right Spark! Thanks for the input. So let's get going at getting this thing started. If he has the time to dedicate to a forum I would think that Jerry Fisk would be the right person to moderate this forum.
 
I think this is a bad idea. First, as a collector, I'm interested in all kind of blades. Second, as a maker (hobbyist), all the technical aspect of building a knife by stock removal also apply to forged blades (although the contrary is not true.) This is just going to make it harder to discover and follow threads.

The one exception is if this is meant to discuss specific ABS concerns - more organizational than other. Then it would be truyelly incremental.

JD
 
Joss,
In my experience, having a forum dedicated to a certain focus brings out more interested parties,more posts, more pictures and more general involvement.

It would also be a service to the ABS, who lacks a good forum of their own, unlike the Knifemakers Guild.

I think the forum should be a "Bladesmith Forum", official forum of the ABS. That is my opinion. Alot of ABS folks are starting to come around. The best way to retain their interest is to have a place that is focused on them, IMO.
 
I'm interested in all knives, but I don't see anything wrong in there being a forum dedicated to traditional knives or individual manufacturers. We have lots of specific interest forums on BF.C and I see absolutely no problem with this.

My only concern is how welcome none ABS bladesmiths will feel, or should that be a concern?
 
The ABS members and collectors are more than welcome to visit and post on the Shop Talk - Bladesmith Question and Answers Forum, (third most visited on the boards) just 2 slots down from this one.
It seems to be doing a pretty good job of educating the new maker, continuing the education process of the established maker, and working with each other sharing knowledge, whether he is a stock removal or a forging guy.
I'm not sure I understand what the purpose of an ABS specific forum would be.
 
i'm with kit and joss....another forum will simply dilute the content of the other 2...possibly making all three less interesting than the current two. the precedent for this is when custom knife pictures and such threads were all sent to the gallery....the custom knife forum slowed down and became less interesting (at least to me)

the main positive is that it could be used as a news source but there are already venues for stuff like that

i doubt there will be a ton of new makers that will sign up simply because of the abs title ... those who want to participate online here are generally already doing so

it may have more of a place over at www.ckdforums.com where a few knifemaker groups already have their own forum.
 
I find the Shop Talk forum to be mostly makers exchanging ideas and there does not seem to be very much non-maker participation. Then again, maybe I am just reading the threads that are almost exclusively makers. I guess I should spend more time there myself.

A forum like the Outpost on the CKD Forum seems to get way more input from the regular members. This is the kind of forum that I would love to see here.

Sorry if it seems snobby to want a forum that caters to just forged blades, but I would personally like to see this. I realize that my motives are self serving, but if I don't take care of my own desires, who else will? Not everyone will see a need for this forum, but I think that there is enough interest to warrant taking a good look. Maybe if there is an ABS forum more of the members of that organization will start to make an appearance. That would be a good thing as far as I am concerned.
 
First, I'll point out that (last time I checked), the dedicated Knifemakers' Guild forum's frequentation is abysmally low. My point is "build it and they'll come" doesn't always work. It might work if the forum offers a specific appeal to members - if it gives them something they're not currently getting. What might that be? Please be specific.

Second, what specifically would you like to see that you don't get currently? Internal ABS affairs? Again, please be specific.
 
You are correct, the Knifemaker's Guild forum has beeen a complete failure. However, it was on its own and did not have the draw that BF.C would bring.

What I am looking for is more input from more bladesmiths. Not just ABS bladesmiths, but also guys like Tai Goo and Jonathon Loose. I realize that an ABS forum would not necessarily bring non ABS smiths to BF.C as there seems to be some animosity felt by some bladesmiths towards the ABS.

I am not interested in the internal workings of the ABS, though I would always like to know about special things that they have going on.

It is definitely not a sure thing that we would get more ABS members to take part even if we do give them their own forum, but if we don't give it a shot we will never know what might have been.

Even if we do decide that this is a good idea we would have to have interest from the ABS to make it a go. There certainly is no guaranty that there would be enough interest from that organization to go ahead with a dedicated forum.
 
Listen, I'll let a cat out...the new ABS forum members signed up when I asked them to. You guys did a GREAT job of making them feel welcome. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wanted to bring more education and INTREST to the forum...not the same-o, same-o. THERE WILL BE MORE signing up shortly.;)

As far as the ABS forum idea...I'm ALL FOR IT! More would sign up and take part. PERIOD!

One thing though...is Jerry educated enough to moderate?:D :D :D :D

Good Day!
 
I really think this is a good idea.It will probably take a while to get a bunch together,but the information would be great.Thanks for the idea. Robert Washburn ABS Journeyman Smith
 
Originally posted by Keith Montgomery
What I am looking for is more input from more bladesmiths. Not just ABS bladesmiths, but also guys like Tai Goo and Jonathon Loose. I realize that an ABS forum would not necessarily bring non ABS smiths to BF.C as there seems to be some animosity felt by some bladesmiths towards the ABS.
Click to expand...

Both Jon and Tai post on the CKD. Jon also posts on Swordforum, and Tai on Don fogg's forum. What makes you think that they'll come on BF if you create an ABS forum, when they didn't come post on the already existing Bladesmithing forum? Esp. considering that Tai Goo is not an ABS member, if I'm not mistaken....

The benefits to yet one more forum are more than limited. On the other hand, it's pretty clear to me that it's going to result on a dilution. I have yet to read good examples of posts that don't fit in the current format, and yet would with an ABS dedicated forum.
 
I guess that I am self-centered.

I collect mainly ABS MS and select JS knives. I am more interested in the ABS makers than guild makers, PKA makers, or GDI makers :)
Even ABBA makers, KIT..:):):)

I am not alone in this collecting habit. The ABS could use the press, as I and many others in the industry feel it is a worthy organization to support.

The American Bladesmith forum could be used to promote the ABS as well as the craft of Bladesmithing as a whole. It could serve as a Gallery area as well as an announcement area for specific information geared towards these specific types of knives. I think it warrants the bandwith. I wasn't thinking of a "shop talk" type of a forum. More of a "whats new" type of a forum where some of the finest sole-authors in cutlery could get some free press.
 
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